8 I3 ?1 a% w2 v1 p+ _Women turn to leeches in Tbilisi 22 June 2011 3 @* r4 U. C' ~rs238848.rs.hosteurope.de % {. |' N+ o& u4 J* P3 i( ULeeches have been used in medicine for thousands of years. By attaching themselves to the body, and sucking blood from a patient, they were thought to bring health benefits. ' M% b2 E- H+ H n1 c! R$ y 5 A2 V/ X0 \) w% d5 I# Y* {8 H0 qThe idea being that disease could be banished by releasing the infected blood. ) C2 \! h; k. J Q+ U, h9 ^& L4 `4 y# \& z! ?3 D
That idea fell out of fashion during the 20th century, with the discovery of modern drugs. But today, as interest in traditional medicine grows, they are making a comeback - particularly in the former Soviet State of Georgia. ' K% z$ p7 B, N S+ z* jrs238848.rs.hosteurope.de人在德国 社区; Q+ C; J8 y5 l
Damien McGuinness in the capital Tbilisi has been finding out why.